Liege Bastogne Liege 2013 Report Part 1

By Brian Kilbride Four club members, me, Bren, Dermot and Kevin headed to La Doyenne this year to test ourselves on one of the route of the oldest classic of them all. Seamus from Limerick sniffed out the possibility of an armchair ride through the Ardennes on Tiernan's rear wheels and signed up as well. We flew out to ... More

Tour of Flanders 2013 – Part 5

An account of our adventures in Flanders 2013 by Mick Dempsey On a long descent I passed Dean and was on my own for a while. Soon after Siobhán joined me. Dean and Emmet were behind us, and I was sure Brian, Dave and Seamus were home and hosed at this point. Darkess began to fall – it was a bit disconcerting to see ... More

Tour of Flanders 2013 – Part 4

An account of our adventures in Flanders 2013 by Mick Dempsey Ahead of us lay the Koppenberg. I had heard so much about this hill, I actually couldn’t wait to get cracking on it. The first thing I noticed about the Koppenberg is how narrow it is…very, you’d fit two bikes only it seems to me. But the way it is ... More

Tour of Flanders 2013 – Part 3

An account of our adventures in Flanders 2013 by Mick Dempsey We pushed on – at this stage, the main concern was the cold – I found it bitterly cold, and the fat thermal hiking gloves I was wearing was making it extremely difficult to adhere to Brian’s recommendation of one bar every 20kms or whatever it was. ... More

Tour of Flanders 2013 – Part 2

An account of our adventures in Flanders 2013 by Mick Dempsey SSo, the next morning we met up in the main square in Bruges at 6.50am. With Brian’s advice ringing in our ears, we had stuffed snickers, nutri bars, assorted pieces of fruit cake and anything other energy-rich product we could find in our pockets. I would ... More

Tour of Flanders 2013 – Part 1

An account of our adventures in Flanders 2013 by Mick Dempsey Having been inspired by our Chairman’s accounts of battles in Flanders in previous years, I decided to test myself this year in the Tour of Flanders, having decided last year that my performances in the high mountains during the Étape might suggest that I ... More

l’Étape du Tour Daily Blog – The Event

by Barry Doyle Sean O'Leary has been out genial host for the five intensive days we have spent here. He is a character of a specific nature, buzzing from one moment to the next. He leaves current conversations just before the finish of the present one, his mind a rush of activity and already focused on the next action, ... More

l’Étape du Tour Daily Blog – Friday

by Barry Doyle Sit Rep It's the rest day here in Argeles Gazost. As all of you know this does not an sitting around but getting an easy spin done, some maintenance and preparation for tomorrow. Having given everyone a run down on Mr Bonnies health yesterday here is a sit rep on the other club members. Dave Keane, ... More